Talking France

This week we head into rural France. Listeners will no doubt know that you absolutely need a car if you're in the French countryside but can President Emmanuel Macron convince drivers to go electric with his new offer? And what about pubic transport? Does the French government have any plans to improve trains and buses for those living in la France Profonde.  We get the latest on the fuel blo...

In this week's episode we'll discuss the ongoing and worsening fuel crisis in the country.  With drivers having to queue for hours to fill up their cars and the French government taking the bold step of forcing strikers back to work tensions are high. Are we heading for a winter of discontent? We'll also hear about the changing eating habits of the French. In the country of Boeuf Bourguignon...

In the new episode of Talking France, we'll be discussing why storm clouds are gathering over the French parliament and why the next few weeks and months look set to be tempestuous for President Emmanuel Macron and his government. We'll lay out the battles that lie ahead and what's likely to happen. And we'll also hear about yet more of Macron's ministers and advisors landing in hot&nbsp...

In today's episode we'll look at whether France is heading for another wave of strikes and protests prompted by yet another pension reform. Yes, nothing riles France's unions more than a proposal to make people work for longer in life but that's what President Emmanuel Macron wants to do. We'll find out why and what's likely to happen. We'll also discuss why wearing a roll-neck jumper is the...

In our latest episode of Talking France - a podcast in which our team at The Local, including French politics expert John Lichfield, discuss all things French, we look at the main talking points in France this week. We explain the new French government website ministers want us to sign up to and why it might help avoid power cuts this winter. We'll examine how skiing in the Alps or Pyrenees might...

On this week's episode we'll discuss everything from France's love for the British queen, problems with French nuclear power, the long-awaited return of Dijon mustard to supermarket shelves and what the devastating wildfires could mean for France's fine wines. We'll also look at why the thorny issue of euthanasia and assisted dying is back in the news in France and how President Emmanuel...

In this new episode of Talking France, our team Emma Pearson, Gen Mansfield and John Lichfield, along with host Ben McPartland explore how the energy crisis will impact life in France and whether President Emmanuel Macron and his government have a plan to get France through the winter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is our final episode of Talking France before we, like the rest of France, take a summer break. There is a lot to discuss as we look into what the next few weeks have in store for France. From the return of Covid-19 to the summer get away and from the political chaos to the threat of strikes we will explore what could happen over the next few weeks. We'll also learn a thing or three about the...

SURVEY: Share your feedback on Talking France ___ In a very dramatic week for France, The Local's Talking France podcast is back, digesting the political crisis, as well as discussing the summer sales, the expanding train network and whether people in France really work just 35 hours a week. Host Ben McPartland is joined by Local France editor Emma Pearson, reporter Genevieve Mansfield and politic...

SURVEY: Share your feedback on Talking France ___ As France bakes under an unusually early heatwave, the latest edition of Talking France examines how French cities are adapting to the new reality of hotter summers, as well as discussing French regional rivalries, the latest strike action and the reality of driving in France. Host Ben McPartland is joined by Local France editor Emma Pearson and re...

SURVEY: Share your feedback on Talking France ___ In this episode of Talking France we'll be looking at the upcoming parliamentary elections - which are struggling to attract interest of voters despite being crucial for what happens over the next five years - French inheritance law, celebrity love affairs and France's best music festival. Ben McPartland is joined by France editor Emma Pearson, rep...

SURVEY: Share your feedback on Talking France __ The Local's Talking France podcast is back with a look at the burning issues in France this week - from policing to farm animals, workers shortages to paperwork traps.  Host Ben McPartland is joined by Local France editor Emma Pearson and reporter Genevieve Mansfield to discuss the big issues in France this week - from the controversy raging ar...

In this week's Talking France we'll look at what's new in France, which Frenchman is dominating all the headlines and why now is great time to head to Provence. And for our main topic of discussion we'll look at the climate crisis. How will it impact France, which regions will most affected and is President Emmanuel Macron really prepared to do what needs to be done? It is of course a long we...

With the results in and Emmanuel Macron having secured a second term as French president, The Local's Talking France podcast breaks down the results and looks ahead at the next few days, the parliamentary elections and the five years of Macron's second term. As the results came in, Ben McPartland was joined by The Local’s France editor Emma Pearson and veteran political columnist John Lichfield to...

France will choose its next president on Sunday and the choice for voters is simple: re-elect the incumbent centrist Emmanuel Macron or opt for his longstanding rival on the far right Marine Le Pen. Some 15.6 million French voters tuned in to watch Wednesday night's almost-three hour clash to see if either candidate could land any knockout blows on their opponent just days before the crucial vote....

Emmanuel Macron and his far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will face each other once again in the second round run off vote in the race for the Elysée. Host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's editor Emma Pearson and political commentator John Lichfield to discuss what's likely to happen when voters go to the polls again on April 24th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

French voters will head to the polls for the first round of voting on Sunday and the election race has suddenly become very interesting. On this week's episode host Ben McPartland runs through the latest polls, news and talking points with The Local France's editor Emma Pearson.  We'll also look at what actually happens on polling day and why people in France will be glued to their TV screens...

In the latest episode of the Talking France podcast, The Local team plus commentators John Lichfield and Rim-Sarah Alouane look at what the election candidates plan for foreigners in France, how the idea of the secular French state has been 'weaponised', and which political party is selling election-special condoms. Ben McPartland is joined by Local France editor Emma Pearson, reporter Sam Bradpie...

With three weeks to go until the first round of the French election, The Local France team plus guest experts John Lichfield and Adam Plowright discuss abstention levels, Macron's legacy for France and which candidate would make the best drinking buddy. The Local’s Talking France aims to make sense of France, its politics and in particular its 2022 presidential election. This week host Ben McPartl...

In this week's episode, host Ben McPartland is joined by The Local France's editor Emma Pearson who brings us up to date on the latest news and talking points with just four weeks to go before the first round of voting. Emma will also help to explain why French people tend to vote differently in certain parts of the country compared to others.  We'll also hear from The Local's polit...

As France prepares for a battle over its political soul - and maybe also the future of Europe - The Local is launching a special election podcast featuring our expert columnist John Lichfield.  We’ll aim to explain the upcoming French presidential election for a non-French audience – how the political system works, who the candidates are and what they stand for, the hot-button issues in...

As France prepares for a battle over its political soul - and maybe also the future of Europe - The Local has launched a special election podcast featuring our expert columnist John Lichfield. You can listen to the pilot episode here.  Music: David Celeste/courtesy of epidemicsound.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.